(LibertySons.org) – At the end of January, the White House announced a pause on the pending approvals of new facilities that export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-Free Trade Agreement (FTA) countries. The pause is expected to last months. Over 150 Republicans and a handful of Democrats are now attacking the decision.
On February 4, more than 150 House conservatives sent a letter to President Joe Biden and demanded that he quickly approve all of the “pending applications to increase the global supply of natural gas.” Fox News reported the conservatives stated that the LNG pause was both “economically and strategically dangerous and unnecessary.”
Further the lawmakers pointed out that past Republican and Democratic administrations have supported LNG exports because they serve the “public interest” by strengthening US energy security and have positive economic benefits.
The GOP lawmakers were led by Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), the House Energy and Commerce Committee chairwoman. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), and others joined the chairwoman.
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Seven Democrats also sent a letter to the president objecting to the pause. The lawmakers included Reps. Henry Cuellar (TX), Mary Sattler Peltola (AK), Jared Golden (ME), Lou Correa (CA), Vicente Gonzalez (TX), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA), and Jim Costa (CA).
Both groups of lawmakers argued that natural gas exports are critical to counter Russian gas exports. Additionally, pausing the exports could hurt European nations that are struggling to make up for their lost energy imports from Russia in the wake of the war on Ukraine.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm wrote to The Washington Post and explained the administration’s decision. She said her department was just pausing the authorizations until a new assessment has taken place, the last ones were in 2018 and 2019. Granholm said the LNG exports have more than tripled since then, and the US has become the largest exporter. The pause won’t impact projects that her department already authorized.
The secretary stated the pause would ensure the US is able to determine if the exports would mean more stable prices for industries and consumers.
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